In scientific terms, how does carbon monoxide harm you?

It bends to the iron in hemoglobin with a higher affinity than oxygen something like 10 times more affinity (i don't remeber the exact number), then when it gets into the cell that needs the oxygen it doesn't get released from the cell which starves the cell of oxygen = death. The only way to remove the CO tainted cells is blood transfusion and wait for those cells(poisoned ones) to die. Life of RBC ~ 120d